A validation study for the Childhood Executive Functioning Inventory : Behavioral correlates of executive functioning

Abstract

The primary aim of this study was to conduct a validation study for the Childhood Executive Functioning Inventory (CHEXI; Thorell & Nyberg, 2008), a behavioral measure of executive functions. Moreover, it was aimed to determine the associations between the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and the CHEXI in order to provide information regarding the behavioral correlates of the WCST. Additionally, it was intended to provide a global knowledge with regard to the developmental status of basic cognitive abilities; such as working memory, fluid intelligence and executive functions, in early school-aged children. Accordingly, 134 first and second grade children were evaluated by their parents via the CHEXI, and 129 of these participants were rated by their class teachers as well, via using the same instrument. Additionally, the participants were assessed by performance-based instruments of executive functions, working memory and fluid intelligence abilities. Results indicated that the CHEXI seems to provide valid and reliable data regarding the daily-life executive functionality of early school-aged children. Furthermore, results demonstrated that the WCST poorly correlates with the daily-life executive functioning, as measured by the CHEXI. Additionally, significant intercorrelations were obtained between executive functions and other basic cognitive skills such as working memory and fluid intelligence.